BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Junior
Kara Pile poured in a season-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough to
help Union over the hump as the Lady Bulldogs dropped a 77-70
Appalachian Athletic Conference decision to visiting Montreat (N.C.) on
Wednesday.

The loss puts Union at 16-10 overall and 6-5 in conference play, while Montreat improved to 22-3 overall and 8-3 in the AAC.

Pile (Fairdale, Ky.) hit 8-of-15 shots and sank 5-of-11 from 3-point range in netting a game-high 25 points. Her previous season high was 18, which came against Bryan (Tenn.) on Jan. 26.

It appeared Union was in control of things as it grabbed a 32-20 lead following a Laura Perkins (Myra, Ky.) layup with 9:44 left in the first half. However, the Lady Bulldogs' offense turned cold while the Lady Cavaliers closed out the period on a 17-3 run to take a 37-35 advantage into the break.

Pile opened the second half by draining three 3-pointers to lift Union to a 44-40 lead by the 18:05 mark. But Montreat countered with an 11-0 run in seizing a 51-44 cushion with 13:05 remaining.

The Lady Bulldogs fought back, cutting the deficit to one three times before taking a 66-63 lead after a Perkins jumper with 4:01 still on the clock.

Yet, back-to-back 3-pointers vaulted Montreat to a 69-66 advantage as the Lady Cavaliers accounted for 14 of the final 18 points en route to the 77-70 victory.